Vision Impairment in Seniors and How In-Home Care Can Help

Edmonton Senior Health  |  November 13, 2023

What Every Senior Needs to Know About In-Home Care and Vision Impairment

Vision Impairment in Seniors, or vision loss, is a major contributor to a loss of independence and this can be devastating. Luckily, there are options for seniors with this disability, through in-home care and other medical services.

November is #NationalHomecareAndHospiceMonth and ##DiabeticEyeDiseaseMonth. This blog is filled with information for In Home Care and Vision Impairment for Edmonton’s seniors!

Vision Impairment in Seniors

Seniors who suffer from vision loss may experience problems with daily activities like reading, meal preparation, or using the phone. Common activities can become difficult, or even impossible, and that’s frightening as vision loss increases with age.

Still, vision impairment isn’t a “normal” part of aging, and the negative effect shouldn’t be taken lightly.

There is enough research to know that older adults who lose vision are challenged by their regular daily activities. For example, seniors may struggle with errands or shopping for themselves, managing finances, and doing housework.

People with impaired vision are less likely to go outdoors and take fewer walks for fear of falling and becoming injured.

Vision Impairment in Seniors and Chronic Conditions

Inactivity is known to lead to chronic illness. Seniors with impaired vision can acquire chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, in addition to their vision challenges.

These limitations and correlating chronic disease tend to manifest greater levels of depression and anxiety than in other seniors.

A visually-impaired senior can get into a vicious cycle, where depression worsens their physical state, and increases their depression. This spirals down to isolation because seniors refuse to participate in the social activities that they once enjoyed.

High levels of depression and anxiety may limit seniors from their everyday activities, even more than the visual problems have!

However, there’s good news! Professional therapies have been created to help visually impaired seniors. Doctors can prescribe rehab to teach coping skills for better managing vision loss. This way, seniors can remain active with their families and communities.

When a low-vision adult accepts assistance from family, friends, and supportive caregivers, with meal preparation and transportation to appointments or social events, their isolation becomes less of a problem, and a sense of normalcy resumes.

Comfort Keepers® in Edmonton Can Help with In-Home Elder Care!

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help. We offer retirement care, 24-hour care, respite care, senior care, and companionship care. Our care services also provide end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and more! 

Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Our trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ offers a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs). Empathetic caregiving starts in the heart and allows us to meet our client’s needs.

Home Care Edmonton

If you live in Devon, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact Comfort Keepers at 780-465-4665.

To learn more about senior care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office to discuss our unique service offering. 

Is Invoicing Modelling and Client Direct Home Care the Right Option for You?

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. Read more about the program HERE.

Recently awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada, our Edmonton location has achieved the highest available certification in Canada for Home Care services. This demonstrates Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton. Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.

Share This Post: